Glimpses
of the PastPeople,
Places, and Things in Letchworth Park History

William
Pryor Letchworth

William Pryor
Letchworth was born to a Quaker family in Brownville NY on May
26, 1823. The fourth of eight children, William grew up in a family
that valued hard work, charity, and the development of the intellect.
(See
the Letchworth Genealogy)

As a young
child William and his family moved to Sherwood, just outside of
Auburn. At the age of fifteen he began his career in the saddlery
and hardware business, as a clerk in the firm of Hayden &
Holmes. Just ten years later he became a partner in the firm of
Pratt & Letchworth of Buffalo New York which he built into
a successful "malleable iron" business. (See
a 1872 description of his business)

Hard work took
a toll on the young businessman. Letchworth, now in his middle
thirties, began to look for an escape from the burdens of business
and city life. When he stepped from the train to join other tourists
gazing from the great Portage Bridge of the Genesee, his search
was over. The Valley that stretched before him would become his
home and his life's work. (See Image of Letchworth as Young Man)

In 1859 he
made his first purchase of land near the Portage Falls and began
his work on making his Glen Iris Estate a special place. He enlisted
the services of the famous landscape artist William Webster to
design winding paths and roadways, rustic bridges, glistening
"lakes" and a sparkling fountain. Soon the glories of
nature returned to the place the Senecas had called Sehgehunda.

Letchworth
also worked to preserve the native history of the Valley. He created
the "Council
Grounds"
on a bluff above the Glen Iris, and moved the ancient Seneca Council
House and a Gardeau cabin to the Grounds. He eventually built
a Museum to house his growing collection of artifacts. Most importantly,
he allowed the famous Mary Jemison to be buried on the Council
Grounds, and erected a statue in her honor. For his work the Seneca
People honored him with the name Hai-wa-ye-is-tah, "he who
does the right thing."

Letchworth
never married, but his Estate was always alive with his relatives
and friends. His visitors explored the natural beauty of the Glen
as they shared the poetry, literature, and art their host so much
enjoyed. Able to retire from business in 1871 at the age of 48,
Letchworth looked forward to a peaceful life at the Glen Iris. (See
Letchworth with family at Glen Iris)

But Letchworth
would soon find another calling. Perhaps it was his Quaker heritage,
his "sensitive constitution", or the need to repay society
for his financial success that led him to look for ways to help
his fellow man. Pressured to run for the State Legislature, he
instead accepted an appointment to the New York State Board of
Charities in 1873. (See Glimpse of his humanitarian work.)

It would be
in the field of social reform that Letchworth true legacy was
found. Using only his own funds, he traveled Europe and the United
States to study the treatment of epileptics and poor children.
He wrote extensively on the two subjects, and slowly pushed New
York State forward in creating institutions and systems to care
for the helpless of society. The development of epileptic centers
and the foster care system can be attributed to him. (See
a list of his Works)

Mr. Letchworth
retired from the State Board of Charities in 1896. But his work
was far from over. From his study in the Glen Iris he continued
his writing and correspondence on numerous topics relating to
social care, and he continued to oversee the workings of his Estate.

But starting
in 1898, the very existence of his beloved Glen Iris was threatened.
The Genesee River Company was formed, which desired to tap the
Genesee River as a source of power and profit. A dam would be
built just south of the Portage Bridge, and the water used to
generate electricity. Although Letchworth had planned to turn
the Glen Iris into an orphanage, he knew that it would not be
protected. In 1906 he offered the Glen Iris and his thousand acres
to the State of New York as a public park. Letchworth State Park
was born in 1907, saving the lands of the Glen Iris Estate forever.
(More
on Saving the Glen Iris)

Letchworth
had life use of the Glen Iris, and lived in his beloved valley
until his death on December 1, 1910. As he wished, he was buried
at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo NY with a plain slab of stone
from the Lower Falls of the Genesee marking his final resting
place.

Tom
Cook

For
more information see Larned's and Beale's biographies
and a variety of pages in our "Pieces of the Past"